🧭 The Word Order for Time and Place in Chinese

🧭 The Word Order for Time and Place in Chinese

Learn the right word order and sound like a native!


Have you ever said something like

“我在学校学习昨天” (wǒ zài xuéxiào xuéxí zuótiān)

and felt something was… off? 😅



In Chinese, word order is everything — especially when talking about when and where something happened.


Let’s break it down in a super simple way.👇

📚 The Golden Rule

Time comes before place.

And both come before the verb!


Structure:

👉 Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object (Optional)

📝 Examples

1.

我昨天在家学习。

(Wǒ zuótiān zài jiā xuéxí.)

→ I studied at home yesterday.


✅ Time = 昨天 (yesterday)

✅ Place = 在家 (at home)


2.

他早上在图书馆看书。

(Tā zǎoshang zài túshūguǎn kàn shū.)

→ He read books at the library this morning.


✅ Time = 早上 (this morning)

✅ Place = 在图书馆 (at the library)


3.

我们上个星期在北京旅行了。

(Wǒmen shàng ge xīngqī zài Běijīng lǚxíng le.)

→ We traveled in Beijing last week.


✅ Time = 上个星期 (last week)

✅ Place = 在北京 (in Beijing)

📝 Practice Time!

Put these in the right order:

1.


我 / 学校 / 明天 / 在 / 考试


2.

她 / 北京 / 去年 / 在 / 工作



3.

你 / 哪儿 / 今天 / 在 / 吃饭




    ✏️ Try it yourself, then check the answers below!


    ✅ Answers:

    1. 

    我明天在学校考试。

    (Wǒ míngtiān zài xuéxiào kǎoshì.)

    → I will take a test at school tomorrow.


    2.


    她去年在北京工作。

    (Tā qùnián zài Běijīng gōngzuò.)

    → She worked in Beijing last year.


    3.


    你今天在哪儿吃饭？

    (Nǐ jīntiān zài nǎr chīfàn?)

    → Where are you eating today?



    ⚠️ Common Mistake

    ❌ 我在学校今天上课。

    This sounds unnatural in Chinese!


    ✅ Correct:

    ✔️ 我今天在学校上课。

    (Wǒ jīntiān zài xuéxiào shàngkè.)

    → I had class at school today.


    Remember: Time → Place → Action

    🎯 Quick Tip to Remember

    Think of it like a movie scene:


    1. When did it happen? (Time)

    2. Where is the scene? (Place)

    3. What action is happening? (Verb)


    ⏰ + 📍 + 🎬

    🚀 Your Turn! Try It in Real Life

    Pick a sentence you want to say in Chinese.


    Try building it with this pattern:

    Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object

    🌟 Want step-by-step guidance?

    👉 Check out my course: Mandarin Chinese Grammar Masterclass for Beginners.

    👉 Explore the full blog series: Chinese Grammar Made Easy.

    📚 Explore All Blog Posts